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West Virginia Conservation Agency
In cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Program
A "rain garden" is a man‐made depression in the ground that is used as a
landscape tool to improve water quality The rain garden forms a
landscape tool to improve water quality. The rain garden
"bioretention area" by collecting water runoff and storing it, permitting
it to be filtered and slowly absorbed by the soil.
Graphic compliments of Sleepy Creek Watershed Association
y As cities and suburbs grow and replace our forests and
agricultural land, increased runoff from impervious
surfaces becomes a problem.
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y Storm water runoff from developed areas increase
flooding; carries pollutants from streets, parking lots
and even lawns to local streams; and leads to costly
municipal improvements in storm water treatment.
y Increased filtration
y Recharge aquifers
y Protection from flooding
and drainage problems
y Water quality protection
from pollutants
y Enhanced beauty
y Habitat for wildlife
y L i t
Low maintenance! !
Rain gardens are suitable for any land use situation ‐
residential, commercial, and industrial. A rain
garden should be placed so that impervious surfaces
will drain into the depression area. Its purpose is to
minimize the volume and improve the quality of
water entering conventional storm drains and nearby
streams and rivers.
Does a rain garden form a pond?
No, the rain water will soak in so that the garden is dry between rainfalls.
Are they a breeding ground for mosquitoes?
No, mosquitoes need 7 to 12 days to lay eggs and hatch‐ water will stand in
garden only a few hours.
Do they require lots of maintenance?
They can be maintained with little effort after the plants are established.
S
Some weeding and watering will be needed first year or two.
di d i ill b d d fi
Is a rain garden expensive?
It doesn t have to be!
It doesn’t have to be!
Graphic compliments of Sleepy Creek Watershed Association
T k d
Take advantage of existing drainage pattern
f i i d i
Note direction of runoff and where water collects by using
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the “water hose method”
Resist areas where water stands
Every site is unique!
Check your soils
Avoid creating your garden too close to your building
foundation
At least 10 feet and down slope from a building
Stay away from septic drain field
Call MISS UTILITY before digging!‐ 1‐800.245.4848 –
Avoid service lines or utilities
Try not to put your garden directly under a tree‐ needs full
or partial sun
Integrate into existing and future
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landscaping
Pay attention to views from inside and
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outside the house as well as throughout the
landscape
Think diversity and mix it up
Sketch it first
Typical rain garden ranges from 100 to 300
yp g g 3
square feet.
Sizing will depend upon:
How deep the garden will be
Type of soil
How much drainage area you will be handling
Will drainage flow directly into garden via PVC piping or across the land?
Typical garden is 4 to 8 inches deep
Keep the garden level!
Graphic compliments of Sleepy Creek Watershed Association
y Again‐ 3 to 4” depression
y Pick a shape!
Pi k h !
y If your soil lacks organic
matter, dig dipper and add
2 to 3 inches of compost or
t i h f t
humus.
y Level!
y Create a berm on lower
side of garden to hold
water
y Use downspout extensions
U d i
or shallow ditch to direct
water into your garden
Graphic from “Rain Gardens‐ A how‐to manual for
homeowners
Research your plants
Choose drought tolerant plants
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Go native!
Consider height, bloom time, color and overall texture
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Choose plants that bloom at different times to create longer flowering season
Mix it up
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Dig plant hole twice as wide as the plant plug
Not too deep!
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Mulch (2” thick)
Water
Integrate stone, ornamental fences, trails or garden benches
Weeding first two years
Pruning as needed
Leave dead or dormant plants standing and cut back in spring
Mow it!
Work in progress‐ add to or share your plants
Blue‐eyed Grass Phlox
Black
Black‐eyed Susan
eyed Susan Yarrow
Bee Balm Canada Wild Rye
Spicebush Bottlebrush Grass
Aster Arrow wood
Butterflyweed Coreopsis
Joe‐pye Weed Veronica
Switchgrass
h Golden Seal
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Goldenrod Solomon’s Seal
Coneflower Blue stem grass
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Mountain laurel Hay‐scented grass
Virginia Wild Rye Cardinal Flower
Rattlesnake Fern Sweet Flag
Berkeley County Judicial
Center‐ Martinsburg, WV
Planted August 2007
Opequon Creek Project Team
k
Local Gardens
Dorcas Elementary School‐
y Mill Creek of the South Branch Planted
April 2008 in cooperation with local Master Gardeners
Add a Rain Barrel‐ Your
Fun Interpretive Signage plants will thank you!
y Water Conservation Benefits
y Water usage increases by 30% in summer
y Storm water Management
y Raise environmental awareness!
y They’re FUN!
West Virginia Conservation Agency
304.538.7581
or
WV Department of Environmental Protection
3 4
304.822.7266
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